MELBOURNE, Fla. — L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) completed a first flight of the U.S. Army Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System (ARES) aircraft, which will help modernize and enhance the Army’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
ARES is a technology demonstrator for the Army’s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) program, capable of integrating capabilities from the Army’s existing ISR fleet with capacity to add payloads, sensors and increase standoff ranges.
“L3Harris is helping the Army rapidly expand its ISR capabilities with ARES,” said Luke Savoie, President, Aviation Services, L3Harris. “Our design, fabrication and integration team turned a green airframe into an initial single sensor capable platform with new sensing technology in six months.”
ARES can fly at mission altitudes above 40,000 feet for as long as 14 hours and can activate Long Range Precision Fires (LRPF) to counter long-range threats. Flight operations above 40,000 feet enhance aircraft survivability and line-of-sight, making ARES and HADES key Sensor to Shooter (S2S) network enablers, the Army’s top modernization priority.
ARES’ extended mission range also reduces mission risk by eliminating the need to operate near challenged or denied borders, something not possible with lower-altitude, shorter-range sensing systems.
ARES is hosted on the Bombardier Global 6000/6500 class business jet, providing optimal size, weight, power, performance and affordability for the HADES program. The original equipment manufacturer’s green aircraft can host up to 14,000 lbs. of mission payload and has the power to run the Army’s longest-range sensors, along with the size, weight and power capacity to accommodate future growth.
L3Harris has extensive experience integrating ISR payloads onto commercial aircraft and is a world leader in developing airborne ISR and EW solutions. The company is leveraging its more than 40 years of experience in missionizing business jet ISR aircraft to develop the latest sensing technologies.
About L3Harris Technologies
L3Harris Technologies is an agile global aerospace and defense technology innovator, delivering end-to-end solutions that meet customers’ mission-critical needs. The company provides advanced defense and commercial technologies across air, land, sea, space and cyber domains. L3Harris has approximately $18 billion in annual revenue and 47,000 employees, with customers in more than 100 countries. L3Harris.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about the value or expected value of orders, contracts or programs, or about technology or system capabilities are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. L3Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
# # #